SEATTLE, Wash (May 20, 2026) – A Kaiser Permanente study published by NEJM Catalyst Innovations in Care Delivery provides real-world data on a new approach to cervical cancer screening: giving patients the option to skip the traditional pelvic exam and collect their own vaginal samples to test for the human papillomavirus (HPV) — the cause of nearly all cervical cancers. The study is the first within a U.S. health care organization to demonstrate the potential of large-scale, population-based HPV self-collection — both via mail and in clinics — to improve access to preventive care and overcome barriers to traditional screenings.
“Kaiser Permanente has led the way on this important innovation — first through trials showing that HPV self-collection is an effective and cost-efficient approach to increasing cervical cancer screening, and now by evaluating the adoption of this approach throughout Kaiser Permanente Washington,” said lead researcher Beverly Green, MD, MPH , a family physician and senior investigator with Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute (KPWHRI) . “The response from clinicians and patients has been extremely positive.”
The evaluation included more than 95,000 Kaiser Permanente Washington members ages 30 to 64 who were due or overdue for screening during 6-month periods either before or after the HPV self-collection program began. Comparing the 2 groups, the researchers found that after the program started:
Cervical cancer screening completion increased significantly, by 2.2% on average.
Screening gains were higher among Black/African American, Asian, and Hispanic populations.
The number of clinician-performed pelvic exams for screening dropped by more than a third, with 37% of patients completing screenings via self-collection.
For people with screening results positive for high-risk HPV, follow-up colposcopy rates improved from 50% pre-program to 75.8% post-program, with support from a centralized safety-net system focused on outreach and follow-up.
In interviews and site visits, clinicians highly favored the program overall, noting that it improved appointment access due to fewer pelvic exams, allowed for more time to address other health concerns, and offered patients a more comfortable and convenient screening option.
The research was conducted by the Center for Accelerating Care Transformation ( ACT Center ), which is part of KPWHRI and leads Kaiser Permanente Washington’s Learning Health System Program . The study authors said their findings could offer a practical roadmap for health systems considering adoption of HPV self-collection — highlighting the importance of standardized workflows, electronic health record (EHR) tools, and reporting and safety-net systems, which are essential for managing follow-up care and ensuring program quality.
“This is a real-world example of a learning health care system in action,” said senior author Paula Lozano, MD, PhD , co-director of the ACT Center and senior associate medical director for research and translation with Kaiser Permanente Washington. “We are using research evidence to inform implementation, continuously evaluate performance, and iterate to better meet the needs of patients and clinicians.”
This study was funded through Kaiser Permanente Washington's Learning Health System Program.
About Kaiser Permanente:
Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America's leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente has a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 12.9 million members in 9 states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal Permanente Medical Group physicians, specialists, and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery, and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education, and the support of community health. For more information, go to about.kp.org .
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NEJM Catalyst
Impact of a Clinic- and Mail-Based Cervical Cancer Human Papillomavirus Self-Collect Screening Program
20-May-2026